The original ThaiVisa post states drivers license passport. The Nation article says produce Normally if one does not have the asked for document you can either be escorted to your abode and retrieve said documents.

KP and Retired are right. Individuals approved for one year visas such as O-R,O Married to Thai National, B with a one year contract need to be issued an ID card. Immigration needs to think out of the box

Jing Jing wrote:The original ThaiVisa post states drivers license passport. The Nation article says produce Normally if one does not have the asked for document you can either be escorted to your abode and retrieve said documents.

KP and Retired are right. Individuals approved for one year visas such as O-R,O Married to Thai National, B with a one year contract need to be issued an ID card. Immigration needs to think out of the box

"Immigration needs to think out of the box." Don't hold your breath!

To reply to a salient point, although I get TV updates, 99% of the time I ignore them coupled with the replies they p[ost, I do tend to treat what they say with a very large pinch of salt, they tend to scare-mongering rather than informative and i therefore suspect the BE think the same thing. if one actually read the original post it was about Hua Hun, NOT the rest of Thailand but because some-one posted on UM and UT, I thought it was therefore expedient to ring and ascertain where they stood if at all.
Not saying they do not read, nor do they ignore, as for Immigration they read to see what is being said about Visas and the those who try to circumnavigate the system. Those of us who have nothing and no-one to hide fear not, but do not for one minute underestimate the Immigration Dept.

KP you are correct that it originates at Hua Hin However what was said ....is

Pol.Col. Thanasak confirmed the following:

1. By law, all tourists and expats nationwide are required to carry their original passports with them at all times. There is no exception to this. Failure to carry your original passport may result in a 2,000 THB fine. The reason behind this is that Immigration needs to keep track of overstayers and foreign criminals who may be staying illegally in the country.

While it is unlikley to happen, a diplomatic solution that required all Thais to carry their passports at all times in Farang countries, and be required to report to farang police / immigration on the same basis farangs are required in Thailand, for exactly the same reason they may overstay their visa, may cause Thai authorities to reconsider their actions.

I imagine this would be onorus to hiso Thais skiing in France or sightseeing in London, but I wonder what the response would be if the farang authorities did this. Would the hiso's request changes be made.

There are many Thais in Aus and I would hate to see them forced to do what farangs are forced to do in Thailand. I would hate to see such a rule enforced.

Good for the goose and gander etc etc etc. On another thread "discrimination in thailand" - is this another example?

I just read that bit about the 20,000 baht, certainly changes the game from the 2,000 baht bounty in HH. As usual it isn't clear, well ok, it is clear as Mississippi mud. What is "fail to produce", produce that very minute, within one hour, 24 hours, no passport at all (I would hope)? In all seriousness, if it becomes a 20,000 baht bounty for not having your passport on you at all given times life is liable to become a living hell in a hurry. Danger from shakedowns, that will probably come regardless with the 2,000 baht bounty, danger from thieves.

I certainly can't see a western farang getting a Thai National ID Card, somehow we just don't seem to have that "Thainess" about our appearance. Frankly neither do other Asians, my wife can tell whether somebody is Thai or not in a glance and often what country they are from.

A note on stupid farangs and how easy it is to loose passport. While reading the Nation article I actually rubbed two or more brain cells together and had a thought, hmm now I thought my passport was right here on computer desk. Oops, maybe it is desk drawer, no, oh crap where the hell is it. Called wife, have you seen my passport? She, "yes it here in truck". I resolve to not make fun of idiots like me that loose their passports.

I would be very surprised if the new government is not reading/checking all the ex-pat forums, along the the British, American, etc. governments. While they may not pay much attention to a bunch of us 'ol farts grumbling, you can bet it is recorded somewhere. Such is life with "Big Brother".

Hey too many people making suggestions for solutions that are relatively simple, easy and logical. TIT, This Is Thailand and those words are not operative here.

I think the US found out already this new government doesn't give a rat's ass about what the US or the west does or says, there is always China. Tit for Tat won't work. And frankly isn't fair to the Thai people. I would like to see a well thought out and well worded alert/travel warning from our Embassies. In the case of the American Embassy/State Department I believe that to be an impossible task as they have proved they do their best thinking with foot already in mouth.

I lived in Ukraine shortly after it broke away from the Soviet Union.
All foreigners were required to carry their passport at ALL TIMES and it was a nightmare as a short walk could see you being stopped 3 or 4 times by police looking for a bit of easy tea money.
It soon transformed in to a popular scam with the locals pretending to be undercover police.

It certainly curbed the drinking habits, drunkenness wasn't quite so much fun when there is the constant fear of losing the passport or being confronted on the way home by police fake or otherwise.

If this new law is enforced it could get real messy the BiB won't miss such an opportunity to extract tea money from the walking ATMs

Just nipping out (with passport) to order my black tee shirts with immigration on them :-"

They should look really smart worn under my jacket with POLICE accross the back

stattointhailand wrote:Just nipping out (with passport) to order my black tee shirts with immigration on them :-"

They should look really smart worn under my jacket with POLICE accross the back

Don't forget the trump card... The hat with Army emblazoned on it!

HM, not a bad idea. Wonder if wearing my old shield/badge and Deputy Sheriff ID would help, that is if I could find where the "P" re-located them to. Nah, bad idea. Maybe some USMC stuff? Nah wouldn't work. I'll opt for the 2,000 baht at the present.

Nah, Sgt, what you REALLY need is a "Tourist Police" ID or even better "Diplomatic Immunity" .... 'ang on, that's probably why the bods at BE in BKK couldn't give a ......

BANGKOK:-- [thaivisa.com] After the confusion surrounding the news that all foreigners in Thailand are required to carry their passport with them at all times, Thaivisa.com has today obtained official clarification on this matter.

Earlier this afternoon, Thaivisa.com spoke to Deputy Commander and Police Colonel Voravat Amornvivat, a senior official at Immigration headquarters in Bangkok.

Deputy Commander Voravat wanted to reassure the expat community in Thailand about the current situation.

He told Thaivsia.com that information in an article published by The Nation on 31 July 2014, was incorrect.

Deputy Commander Voravat confirmed that foreign tourists and expats do not need to carry their passports with them at all times.

He said that tourists can of course leave their passports locked in their hotel safe and enjoy their holiday in Thailand without worrying about the need to carry their original passport.

Deputy Commander Voravat also said that for expats living here, a Thai driving license or photocopy of your passport can be used as a form of identification.

However, if Immigration Police suspect an individual to be overstaying in Thailand or being involved in illegal activity, then the individual would be required to produce their original passport promptly.

Deputy Commander Voravat referred to Section 58, which reads as follows:

Any alien who has no lawful document for entering the Kingdom under section 12(1);....under this Act; and has no identification in accordance with the Law on Alien registration, is considered to have entered the Kingdom in violation of the Act.

Entering or staying in Thailand without holding a valid passport and visa/extension is subject a fine and possible prison sentence.

Making all foreigners in Thailand carry their original passports with them would be very difficult.”

“It’s about being reasonable and using common sense”


“But if we think a foreigner is involved in illegal activity then we will of course need to see their original passport, this is normal”, said Deputy Commander Voravat.


Deputy Commander Voravat is eager to avoid further misunderstandings and miscommunication regarding immigration matters and is happy to work with Thaivisa.com in the future in order to provide correct information to foreign tourists and the wider expat community in Thailand.

Thaivisa.com thanks Deputy Commander Voravat for his interview and taking time to clarify the situation.

The idea of foreigners being able to get a copy of their passport officially stamped by Immigration is currently not an option. However, it is always a good idea to have a copy of your passport with you at all times while in Thailand.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747 ... commander/

This cannot possibly be true, it is too logical and actual makes sense. I await the next "clarification". Hopefully it will be as logical as this and concerning TM28, not holding my breath.

Thanks Shado, can we all go fishing now?

sgt wrote:This cannot possibly be true, it is too logical and actual makes sense. I await the next "clarification". Hopefully it will be as logical as this and concerning TM28, not holding my breath.

Thanks Shado, can we all go fishing now?

Don't forget your fishing license

Good logical news for today await amendment tomorrow

OK so now we have the DEPUTY Commander's take on what it means ...........

Anyone else waiting for the Commander to overrule him?

Fishing license, what fishing license, we don't need no stinkin' fishin' license...lol. Thailand does need a fishing license with revenues going to work on saving their fish populations. I'll never see it. In the mean time I'll try to find an "alternative" fishing license.

Still in wait and see mode, but things are looking a bit brighter. Have to be careful though, we all know the old saying, "Smile things could be worse", it's true, I smiled once and sure enough things got worse...lol.

You'll need a fishing, rod, reel and tackle license for all the fish that bite on here!

Funnily enough that is exactly the same information I was given in 2003, so nowt appears to have changed then, copy passport. Thai D/l and the neccesary to get it if required, that is , if you are silly enough to be doing something illegal that warrants close inspection by the BIB.